Early in first quarter
Ridgeway leads 3-0 on Jason Jones 3-pointer…In 1:30, that’s all the scoring we have so far…..Nick Walls called for traveling for Ridgeway….Wildcat possession….

4:16 left in first quarter
J. Jones headed to line for Ridgeway with Roadrunners leading, 5-2….makes first, makes second…..7-2 Ridgeway….Nick Walls layup makes it 9-2 Ridgeway…..That a way MEMPHIS!!!!!!!

2:45 left in first quarter
It’s like Clarksville doesn’t know what hit them so far….Ridgeway now leading 14-2 following Anthony Wooten 3-pointer…..Timeout Clarksville, and it’s long overdue with 2:23 left in first now.

End of first quarter….Ridgeway 18, Clarksville 7
Roadrunners off and running!!!! Biggest lead was 14

7:03 left in second
Ryne Harper 3-pointer has cut lead to 18-10…..Like Whites Creek, Clarksville appears to be getting over early jitters associated with playing a Memphis team….Whites Creek coach Jim Nolner talked about just that following his team’s quarterfinal win over Craigmont…..His Cobras had trailed by 10 in the second quarter, when Nolner said his team got over the “Memphis Mystique”

4:10 left in second
Man, has Clarksville gotten over the so-called Memphis Mystique…..Ryne Harper’s third 3-pointer cuts it to 22-20, Ridgeway, before Martino Brock makes a jumper to push lead back to four……Since leading 18-4, Ridgeway has been outscored 16-6.

2:26 left in second
Goodness, it’s now tied at 24-all following another 3-pointer by Clarksville….I’m starting to get the feeling that beating Memphis is becoming VERY personal for these teams from the rest of the state.

End of first half….Ridgeway 27, Clarksville 27
I’m almost scared to watch the rest. Maybe if I concentrate on getting my Craigmont story done, like I was early in the first quarter of this one, Ridgeway will play like it had been early, when it led 18-4. Be back for second half.

7:10 left in third quarter
Man, oh, man. Clarksville has taken a 33-27, having outscored Ridgeway, 8-0, since the second quarter……Roadrunners make a pair of FTs to cut it to 33-29

4:11 left in third quarter
This feels like a repeat from earlier…..Clarksville has taken its biggest lead at 43-33….Jones misses dunk attempt for Ridgeway on other end, but gets it back, makes basket in lane and is fouled…..heads to line for FT..misses…but Memphis football signee Dasmine Cathey is there for rebound, and he’s fouled…..makes 1-of-2 to make it 43-36, Clarksville.

56.6 left in third quarter
Ridgeway has made this a 4-point game (49-45) on Trevon Malone’s bucket inside…..Tyrone Caldwell back to line….makes both FTs

End of third…Clarksville 53, Ridgeway 48

7:16 left in fourth quarter
Ryne Harper 3-pointer makes it 56-50 Clarksville……Roadrunners just can’t seem to get any defensive stops…..having little trouble scoring….just need some stops, and they get one…Walls gets a steal, then over to Jones underneath basket..misses layup, but is fouled…..Jones heads to line with 6:40 left….makes both….56-52 c-ville

6:15 left in fourth quarter
Martino Brock at line for two….misses first, rattles in second to make it 57-53, Clarksville….damn stat boxes on on the fritz here on press row, so I can’t tell you right now what both teams are shooting, but I can tell you Ryne Harper is on fire from deep for Wildcats….hits another 3-pointer to make it 60-53, Clarksville

5:06 left in fourth
Timeout Ridgeway, trailing, 61-57 on J. Jones layup….unlike Craigmont, Ridgeway’s remaining close enough with enough time still left on clock to steal this one….Unbelievable crowd for Clarksville, which must have half of the Murphy Center full with its folks.

4:35 left in fourth
Trevon Malone with a chance to cut lead to two, but misses both FTs….Clarksville still leads 61-57, and Tyrone Caldwell adds layup to push lead to six…

3:19 left in fourth
Wes Henning forced to call timeout for Ridgeway after Ryne Harper bangs in another 3-pointer to make it 66-57, Clarksville…..This one’s getting away from Roadrunners.

2:51 left in fourth
Six point game after Caldwell splits a pair of free throws for Wildcats…Wooten hits a leaner on other end for Ridgeway to make it a 4-point game (67-63), but Harper to the line now for Clarksville….makes 1-of-2……68-63 Clarksville with 2:24 left

1:28 left in fourth
Caldwell at line now with Clarksville leading 70-63….starting to look like Memphis won’t have a boys team in class AAA final for first time since 1999…..Caldwell makes both to stretch lead to nine

1:06 left in fourth
Wow!! Wooten steal and 3-pointer had made this a 72-68 game…..Ridgeway gets another steal on inbounds pass, and Anthony Boyce is fouled for Ridgeway…..misses FIRST!!!!…makes second……misses second…..NOW ANOTHER TURNOVER by Clarksville….Ridgeway ball with 40 seconds left, and Wooten makes a LAYUP to make it 72-71!!!!!!

17.2 second left in fourth
You would not believe this folks….After Adam Barnes’ misses two FTs for Clarksville…..Boyce gets wideopen underneath basket for Ridgeway, but misses bunny….then Dasmine Cathey, who gets the offensive rebound, misses from the other side…..Both were incredibly makeable buckets….Clarksville almost can’t believe it’s still leading with ball with 17.2 left

6.1 left in fourth
With 6.1 left, R. Harper is at line for Clarksville after Nick Walls fouls out for Ridgeway…..Roadrunners still trail just 72-71, and Henning has now called timeout to ice Barnes and talk about what it will do on its possession. One thing is for sure, the Roadrunners should definitely get a shot off.

6.1 left
Out of timeout now…..Harper to line…..makes first, makes second

Game Over ….Clarksville 74, Ridgeway 71
Wooten and Boyce each miss 3-point attempts over final six seconds and Ridgeway is done. Wes Henning all over Roadrunners for trying to leave floor without shaking Clarksivlle players’ hands…Roadrunners, as they should, come back on his command and do handshakes….This one’s over folks…..Memphis, for the first time in eight seasons, is out of it in Class AAA…I’m out for another round of interviews with sad-faced kids…

Oh well, there’s still Mitchell, and you tell me, who would’ve actually thunk it at the beginning of the season, that Mitchell, which lost everything from last year’s state runner-up team, would be the last Memphis boys team playing in March.

Slow-paced game so far….Jarius Wilson’s layup has given Craigmont an early 8-4 lead….

3:20 left in first quarter
Jarius Wilson 3-pointer makes it 11-4 Craigmont…..Chiefs have scored seven straight points

1:13 left in first quarter
Josh Eddy steps to line for Whites Creek….the Cobras have now outscored Craigmont, 7-2, over the last 1:30, to make it 13-11, Chiefs……James Justice nails 3-pointer, though, to put hometown team back up 16-11.

End of first quarter…Craigmont 20, Whites Creek 13
Chiefs shooting 7-of-11 from field (63.6 percent) and have zero points from junior star Terrico White, one of the nation’s top juniors. James Justice leads Craigmont with seven points on a perfect 3-of-3 effort in the first quarter……Whites Creek shooting 33.3 percent.

7:30 left in second quarter
C-mont now has its biggest lead of game at 23-13 on 3-pointer by Robert Rogers…everyone contributing other than White, who really hasn’t needed to yet.

5:46 left in second quarter
Whites Creek taking it’s time offensively, now trailing, 23-16….it works…..Graham, a Vanderbilt football signee, gets a layup out of halfcourt offense for Cobras…

4:09 left in second quarter
Don’t look now, but Whites Creek has outscored Craigmont, 12-2, since the Chiefs led, 23-13….game now tied at 25-all, and Laronde scores on a putback to put Cobras up, 27-25….

2:53 left in second quarter
Zach Jones steps to line with a chance to tie it for Craigmont, but makes just 1-of-2 to cut Cobra advantage to 1…pretty good crowd here in Murphy Center…..just not many C-mont fans…..guess they’re waiting back in Memphis to see what Chiefs do today before making the trek up here.

1:02 left in second quarter
Zach Jones fadeaway gives Craigmont a 30-27 lead, but a Laronde 3-pointer from left side has tied it again at 30…..Chiefs appear to have settled down following Whites Creek’s run.

End of first half….Whites Creek 33, Craigmont 30
Jamie Graham 3-pointer from top of key as time expires gives the Cobras the edge going into halftime……Craigmont finished just 3-of-10 in the second quarter after going 7-of-11 in first. Justice’s nine points lead Chiefs. For Whites Creek, Graham, the Vandy football signee, is starting to heat up, and now has a team-high 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Cobras much better from field in second quarter and are now shooting 43.8 percent (14-of-32). Be back for the second half in a few.
*****Where’s the Terrico White coming-out party?!?! Rivals.com’s No. 130 junior prospect has just two points on 1-of-4 shooting….it’s like he’s not even involved offensively..seems strange

7:18 left in third quarter
Whites Creek picking up where it left off, as Laronde’s 3-point basket makes it 36-30, Cobras (biggest lead)…Craigmont turns it over on other end

5:25 left in third quarter
James Justice, one of the smallest guys on the court, gets two straight putbcaks to make it, 38-34, Whites Creek…..Craigmont ball again following Cobras’ fifth turnover of game….

3:50 left in third quarter
Calvin Roberts 3-pointer makes it 43-36 Whites Creek….everyone hot for Cobras…..White misses 3-point attempt on other end (he’s 1-of-7 now), and Jamie Graham promptly gets a potential 3-point play on other end…makes FT….it’s now 46-36 Whites Creek, matching Craigmont’s biggest lead of game early in second quarter (23-13).

2:54 left in third quarter
Timeout Craigmont now with Laronde headed to FT line and Chiefs still trailing, 46-36……Craigmont now 3-of-10 in this quarter from field……Laronde makes first, makes second….Whites Creek now up 12.

1:54 left in third quarter
Who else but Justice nails a 3-pointer to stop bleeding momentarily, but Laronde matches it with a trey on other end to make it, 51-39….Robert Rogers layup cuts it back to 10 with 1:26 left in period

43.3 left in third quarter
Everything going Whites Creek’s way…..Calvin Roberts appeared to commit a charging foul inside, but Craigmont called for a block and the basket is good…..Roberts makes FT to give Whites Creek its biggest lead of game at 54-41.

End of third….Whites Creek 55, Craigmont 43
Chiefs may have dug themselves a hole to big now to come out of. After starting the game 7-of-11 in the first quarter, Craigmont has made just 9-of-25 shot attempts over the following two periods….Justice (16 points) and Robert Rogers (seven points) pretty much all Craigmont has going for it.

6:59 left in fourth
Timeout Whites Creek with Cobras leading, 57-44. Whites Creek now 22-of-43 from the field (51.2 percent)….hitting just about everything since the first quarter…

6:10 left in fourth quarter
Timeout Craigmont following Jarius Wilson 3-pointer that’s cut it to 59-47, Whites Creek…..Craigmont just can’t keep Graham from penetrating lane for layups and kickouts….Graham now has 17 to go with Laronde’s 17……C. Roberts to line now for Cobras for 1-and-1…makes first, misses second, but Eddy scoops up rebound for Whites Creek….still Cobras ball, and Joseph Graham goes to hole again. Whadduya know, he makes the layup….kid refuses to be denied…..now 62-47 Whites Creek.

3:29 left in fourth quarter
Timeout Whites Creek. Cobras now lead, 68-57, following James Justice layup…..Justice is a remarkable 8-of-10 from the field, rest of team is 13-of-32….not good…At least Justice, a senior, is going out firing….

2:58 left in fourth quarter
This mostly Whites Creek crowd starting to get a little nervous after Brandon McQueen’s basket makes it an eight-point game (68-60)….Craigmont has scored five straight, but fouls D. Harper on other end with 2:27 left…he makes both FTs to push lead back to 10.

1:39 left in fourth quarter
Ball knocked out to Whites Creek underneath its own basket…..Chiefs now trail, 72-64, but Laronde scores again and is fouled by Robert Rogers for potential 3-point play….makes FT…now 75-64, Whites Creek…..

53.0 left in fourth quarter
A Terrico White tip has made it 75-69, but it appears to be too little too late for Craigmont……Jamie Graham to line now with 46.8 left, makes first, makes second….77-69, Whites Creek…Credit Chiefs for not laying down in this one.

26.1 left in fourth quarter
Harper at line for Whites Creek with C-mont trailing by six (77-71), misses first, makes second….still a slim, slim chance here for Craigmont, but Chiefs miss a 3-pointer and baseline jumper on their possession…..Cobras fouled….This one’s just about over.

Final….Whites Creek 82, Craigmont 71
Credit the Chiefs for not giving up. Whites Creek just shot the ball too well, with four players in double digits…..As for that coming out party for craigmont, the Cobras snuffed it out I guess….having a Memphis team reach its eighth consecutive Class AAA final is all on Ridgeway now.

Our Tiger Bloggers will give us their thoughts throughout the University of Memphis’ run through the NCAA Tournament

From Chad Langstraat, Memphis:

How did the regular season match up to my expectations?

Y’all will have to forgive me. I am an engineer and numbers are my nature. I believe they speak for themselves:

Last Season:

Rodney/Darius/Shawne: Averaged a total of 43.8 points, which is 55% of the offense.

What other team in the nation can lose its 3 leading scorers and not miss a beat. Well I guess we are averaging 0.4 points per game less this year. (80ppg vs. 79.6ppg)

This Season:

Joey already has 11 blocks and 8 steals more than last season and we haven’t started the tournament.

We are holding our opponents to 62.3ppg which is down over 3ppg from last year. Our average margin of victory is over 17ppg. That is impressive no matter what conference you are in!

In short: NO ONE could have anticipated that we would be this good. Most of the players now have some tournament experience. I can’t wait for Tiger Tip-off. I am already making plans for San Antonio next weekend. How sweet would it be to take Rick Pitino out after he refused to play us? I also want to see Joey vs. Oden. That will be a match up to remember!

Our Tiger Bloggers will give us their thoughts throughout the University of Memphis’ run through the NCAA Tournament

From Alisa D. Williams, Bartlett:

To my surprise, the Tigers’ regular season was awesome. I figured after losing so many key players, this season would be one of regrouping. I knew there was a lot of work to be done as always in the building of a new team.

Well, you can imagine my surprise when the wins kept coming and coming…a pleasant surprise I might add….and to end the season with such an excellent record..one of the best records (30-3) in the NCAA…holding the season record for the most consecutive wins in the NCAA…emerging Conference USA regular season and conference champions…

Who knew???

Wow!!!

I just want to thank Coach Cal and the Tigers for another exciting season. We wish you guys the best of luck on your road to the Final Four!

7:37 left in first quarter
Darius Ricks to line for Howard, makes 1-of-2……Mitchell then scores eight straight points to take an 8-1 lead on a pair of 3-pointers by Jarvis Jones and Mardracus Wade…..this one’s really fast-paced….5:38 left now and Howard has responded with two straight buckets to make it, 8-5, Mitchell…..timeout Tigers

4:26 left in first quarter
9-1 run now for Howard…..Darius Ricks has scored seven of them and already has eight for the game….Ken Torry to line for a pair of free throws….makes 1-of-2….now 10-9 Howard

3:53 left in first quarter
Brandon Allen to line for Howard with Mitchell leading 11-10 on a putback by Ken Torry….makes 1-of-2…game tied at 11

3:02 left in first quarter
Large Chattanooga contingent on its feet now following Dominique Taylor one-handed jam….Howard now leads 15-11, having outscored Mitchell, 14-3, since the Tigers led, 8-1, to start the game…

1:52 left in first quarter
Mitchell possession trailing, 15-13…..Howard’s full-court press causing some problems for the Tigers in terms of getting into their offense…Content to jack shots when they’re open for now….and they’re missing…Torry misses 3-pointer….Tigers now 5-of-15 from the field with 1:19 left in quarter…..still trail, 15-13….

54.1 left in first quarter
Timeout Howard, still leading, 15-13….The Hustlin Tigers are shooting 6-of-11 from the field (54.5 percent) and have outrebounded Mitchell, 10-7, so far…..Howard really doesn’t have a big presence on the floor in terms of a post, but their guards hit the boards hard…..Brandon Allen scores in lane to make it 17-13

End of first quarter…Howard 19, Mitchell 15
Hustlin’ Tigers already have seven from Brandon Allen and eight from Darius Ricks, and are now shooting 61.5 percent after a quarter……This team, believe it or not, appears quicker than Mitchell….at least it has been on the boards, where it now leads 11-7….Mitchell might actually want to think about slowing it down and going inside to McCaster.

6:47 left in second quarter
Ken Torry to line for Mitchell, where he’s 1-of-2 today…misses first, makes second….Mitchell trails, 21-16…..Ricks scores layup on other end to push lead back to seven, but Mardracus Wade answers on other end on potential three-point play….misses layup…Mitchell trails, 23-18

5:26 left in second quarter
Dominique Taylor 3-pointer makes it 26-20 Howard after Torry’s layup cut lead to three (23-20). ….Torry now has 10 for Mitchell off the bench

3:57 left in second quarter
Howard is red-hot from the field!!!!! Another Taylor 3-pointer makes it 31-22 (Howard 13-of-20 65 percent),…..but Darrell Neal and McCaster score back-to-back buckets for Mitchell to tighten it back to five (31-26).

2:51 left in second quarter
Mitchell on 7-0 run now following Russell Hill 3 pointer….could’ve been 10-0 if Jarvis Jones makes 3-pointer, but he misses…..Howard ball, and C. Deloney is fouled and heads to line…misses both, but Howard gets offensive rebound again…..they’re killing Mitchell on the boards and they’re a smaller team for the most part.

1:49 left in second quarter
McCaster, a 6-5 post and the biggest thing on the floor today, heads to line for two FTs with Mitchell trailing, 33-29….misses both….Howard possession

1:09 left in second quarter
The rebounding numbers are staggering…..Howard now leads 23-11 on boards….Mitchell possession though, trailing by six, 35-29, but Torry misses in lane

End of first half…..Howard 35, Mitchell 29
Say this for Mitchell: they’re still in this thing despite Howard shooting 15-of-28 from the field (54 percent) and outrebounding the Tigers, 25-12, for the half…..Mitchell, meanwhile, it 12-of-31 from the field, including just 3-of-11 from deep and has connected on just 2-of-7 FTs…..
*Surely, Howard won’t shoot this well in the second half, but Mitchell must fare better on the boards if they’re going to pull this one out….Torry’s 10 points lead Mitchell, which has taken good care of the ball with just three turnovers……Ricks leads Howard with 10, but two others (D. Taylor and S. Satterfield) have eight for the Hustlin Tigers.

7:33 left in third quarter
Howard now leading 37-29 after a pair of free throws by Brandon Allen…..Mitchell misses on other end, also misses tip attempt…..looked on that trip though like coach Jerry Johnson has stressed hitting the boards in the second half

3:30 left in third quarter
Mitchell now trailing, 41-35….Torry has scored two straight layups and Leon Boddie adds another to make it 41-37….Mitchell playing with much more intensity.as Mardracus Wade makes it a 2-point game with a layup….Now 41-39, Howard……10-0 run for Mitchell!!!!!

End of third….and WOW….Mitchell 50, Howard 48
Mitchell outscored Howard, 21-7, over final 5:54 of third quarter to take lead on Darrell Neal’s 3-pointer from the left corner…..Hustlin Tigers appear to be playing not to lose now rather than the aggessive style they started the game with….

6:56 left in fourth quarter
Amoni Burditt’s basket in lane has given Mitchell 52-48 lead….Dedric Ellis fouled on other end, makes 1-of-2 free throws……but Howard still has possession fouling steal…..Mitchell steal now, and Neal takes it in for a slam and a five point lead

5:49 left in fourth quarter
Darrell Neal layup gives Mitchell 56-51 lead, but D. Ricks answers on other end ot make it 56-53……Torry fouled on a blocking call on Mitchell’s possession…referees not sure whether to count bucket, and after conferring with each other, do….Torry makes FT….then D. Neal adds another layup 10 seconds later to make it 61-53 Mitchell…

5:02 left in fourth quarter
Mitchell has extended its lead to 62-53 now following a McCaster free throw….Howard faithful still chanting, but good gosh, they’ve got to feel like the tide has turned drastically against their favor….Mitchell leads 62-53 now coming out of timeout and Satterfield headed to line with 4:48 left…makes first, misses second…..62-54, Mitchell…and Darius Ricks called for his fourth foul on over-the-back call….Neal to line for Mitchell….He has 11 second half points, but shoots an air ball from the FT line on the 1-and-1 opp…..poor Darrell.

3:53 left in fourth quarter
Ricks has fouled out for Howard….not a good sign for Hustlin Tigers, losing leading scorer (20 points)…..Satterfield heads to line with Howard trailing, 65-56….makes 1-of-2 to cut lead to eight.

3:15 left in fourth quarter
McCaster fouls Satterfield going to basket……If Tigers could keep Howard off line, this one would be over already…..Satterfield misses first, though….makes second to make it 66-58 Mitchell

2:31 left in fourth quarter
Brandon Allen to line after Mardracus Wade fouls out for Mitchell….Tigers lead 67-58 (they’re now 7-of-20 from FT line)….makes both…Howard now trails, 67-60, and it’s becoming a free-throw shooting contest…..Jarvis Jones heads to line for Mitchell, but Howard calls full timeout first with 2:18 left in quarter…

2:07 left in fourth quarter
as bad as Mitchell has been from the line (now 8-of-22), Howard hasn’t been much better….they’re 15-of-26 now (57.7 percent) following a pair by Satterfield that cut lead to 68-62…..Jones to line on other end, and what do you expect? He misses first, makes second….69-62 Mitchell

1:12 left in fourth quarter
Jones to line and, wow, he actually makes two…Mitchell lkeads 71-62 now and is on its way to Friday’s semifinals…

This one’s over….Mitchell 71, Howard 62
Torry scores a game-high 25 points for the Tigers, who rally from a double-digit third-quarter deficit…..Mitchell will take on Austin-East in Friday’s semifinals at 5:15 p.m….off to do interviews

Our Tiger Bloggers will give us their thoughts throughout the University of Memphis’ run through the NCAA Tournament

From Andrew Ruhland, Memphis:

Without question, this team far exceeded any expectations that I had for them at the beginning of the season. Here are the facts:

We lost a large portion of our scoring production to the draft
Our conference is not as challenging as some of the others
We have to schedule tough early to help our rankings and RPI, so we don’t have the luxury to play all powder puffs at the beginning, so we can find ourselves as a club
All three losses were not at home
In conference we did not lose a game, and won by an average of 18.4 ppg
We only have one Senior (who came off of the bench) contributing significant minutes on the court
Read the rest of this entry »

Our Tiger Bloggers will give us their thoughts throughout the University of Memphis’ run through the NCAA Tournament

From Jim Lott, Nashville:

The 2006/2007 University of Memphis Tigers greatly exceeded my expectations. When you loose 3 critically important players as we did last year and have to replace most of the scoring it appears that it would be nearly impossible to come close to duplicating last year and what has this team done? During the regular season they have! 30-3 and undefeated in league play is impressive no matter what conference you’re in! And talk about under the radar screen, no one player on our team has been mentioned in any national press. So this year’s team joins together to collectively become a superstar! Each player seems to thrive in their role and support each other in every game. And when Chris Douglas-Roberts drives the ball it appears that the defense is standing in thick mud trying to guard him! It is refreshing to see a player work and drive for better shots then just taking the jumper! And what a great story Jeremy Hunt has become. We hear constantly people will never change and once trouble starts it will always continue but he has shown that given the chance and trust a person can change. I can remember several months ago the uproar his reinstatement caused. I would love to see the same people writing to congratulate him now. I wrote at the time in this same blog that in my opinion that is exactly what a university is all about, helping people improve themselves and prepare for the rest of their lives and The U of M certainly met that obligation in this case!
Read the rest of this entry »